Solid-state imaging device with noise extracing pixels in the effective pixel region and solid-state imaging system using the same

Abstract

A solid-state imaging device having within a pixel region where pixels containing photoelectric conversion device are two-dimensionally arranged, a plurality of noise extracting pixels for outputting a noise signal not depending on incident light amount provided in an effective pixel region from which image signal associated with object image is outputted, disposed in a manner scattered into two dimensions so that, taking N×N (N being an integer of 2 or more) pixels within the effective pixel region as unit block, at least one is provided in each row and in each column within that unit block.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A solid-state imaging device comprising within a pixel region where pixels each containing a photoelectric conversion device are two-dimensionally arranged, a plurality of noise extracting pixels for outputting a noise signal not depending on incident light amount provided in an effective pixel region from which an image signal associated with an object image is outputted, disposed in a manner scattered into two dimensions so that, taking N×N (N being an integer of 2 or more) pixels within said effective pixel region as a unit block, at least one is provided in each row and in each column within that unit block,
 wherein only said plurality of noise extracting pixels within the pixel region are shielded from the incident light amount by a metal layer so as not to allow the incident light amount on the photoelectric conversion device of said noise extracting pixels, and 
 wherein at least one of said plurality of noise extracting pixels within said unit block is vertically or horizontally directly adjacent to two pixels not shielded from incident light from which an image signal associated with an object image is outputted. 
 
     
     
       2. The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein pixels in said effective pixel region contain color pixels of a plurality of colors, and said noise extracting pixels are provided correspondingly to each color pixel. 
     
     
       3. The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein pixels in said effective pixel region contain color pixels of a plurality of colors, and said noise extracting pixels are provided correspondingly to only certain color pixels. 
     
     
       4. The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control section for controlling an operation of said pixels,
 wherein said noise extracting pixels output said noise signal based on control of said control section. 
 
     
     
       5. A solid-state imaging system comprising:
 the solid-state imaging device according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  and  4 ; 
 a correcting image generation section for generating a correcting image signal from said noise signal; and a correction section for correcting said image signal with said correcting image signal.